M60 car fire caused hours of motorway chaos

Motorway chaos was caused when a car burst into flames, closing a busy sliproad. A suspected fuel leak set the Fiat Punto alight on the anti-clockwise exit at junction two of the M60 on Tuesday at 6.10pm.

Motorway chaos was caused when a car burst into flames, closing a busy sliproad.

A suspected fuel leak set the Fiat Punto alight on the anti-clockwise exit at junction two of the M60 on Tuesday at 6.10pm.

The 25-year-old male driver suffered smoke inhalation and mild hyperthermia and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Tailbacks were caused as the sliproad remained closed throughout the evening. The prolonged closure was deemed necessary because water from firefighters' hosepipes had frozen on the surface making driving conditions hazardous.

The fire, which destroyed the car, had been reported by passing motorists.

Crew Commander David Mee, from King Street fire station, said: "The vehicle was well alight when we arrived, there was a large amount of fuel involved as the petrol tank had split."